# Sports Names **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 20, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283 "2018-07-20T17:43:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/1 "2018-07-20T17:43:09Z")
[Today’s XKCD](https://xkcd.com/2022/) is about athletes whose names are the same as a common element of the sport they play. Only a few of them are real (Margaret Court, Gary Player, and Lonzo Ball). I’m sure we can come up with some more real ones. To start, how about [Bob Walk](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkbo01.shtml), former pitcher for the Phillies, Braves, and Pirates? Any others? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/2 "2018-07-20T17:57:41Z")
Usain Bolt-Sprinter Marina Stepanova-Hurdler Cecil Fielder-Baseball Thomas Diamond-Baseball Chuck Long-Football quarterback Willie Thrower-Football quarterback [More here.](https://www.topendsports.com/fun/names/apt.htm) ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/3 "2018-07-20T18:11:09Z")
The more here link lists two that I would have included: Nathan Leeper – US high jumper James Jett (and his sister Keisha) – US sprinter ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/4 "2018-07-20T18:17:44Z")
On the “not doing so well in my sport” side: [Grant Balfour](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/balfogr01.shtml) (baseball pitcher) [Steve Swisher](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishst01.shtml), and his son [Nick Swisher](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishni01.shtml) (baseball catcher and outfielder, respectively) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/5 "2018-07-20T18:24:28Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > [Steve Swisher](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishst01.shtml), and his son [Nick Swisher](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishni01.shtml) (baseball catcher and outfielder, respectively) Too bad they didn’t play basketball. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/6 "2018-07-20T18:25:35Z")
[Mac Speedie](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SpeeMa00.htm) (football receiver) Alas, though [Jim Kiick](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KiicJi00.htm), and his father [George](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KiicGe20.htm), both played in the NFL, neither of them were kickers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/7 "2018-07-20T18:39:33Z")
And, alas, though he ran the ball, and caught the ball, [Patrick Pass](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PassPa00.htm) never threw a pass in the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/8 "2018-07-20T18:46:32Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > James Jett (and his sister Keisha) – US sprinter James also had a long career as [an NFL wide receiver](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JettJa00.htm) – not surprisingly, he played for the Raiders, who have a history of going for receivers with incredible speed but rather ordinary hands. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/9 "2018-07-20T18:55:43Z")
[Jake Ball](http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/414990.html) plays cricket for England. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/10 "2018-07-20T19:18:02Z")
Will Power is an Indycar driver. Scott Speed is a race car driver - Nascar, Indy, Rally, sports car, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/11 "2018-07-20T19:59:11Z")
Vic Power was a ballplayer. There have been a number of players named Homer, though none were good at hitting homers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/12 "2018-07-20T20:31:22Z")
Pitcher [Craig Dingman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dingmcr01.shtml) gave up 13 career dingers. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/13 "2018-07-20T20:43:08Z")
God Shammgod, former NBA basketball player. Too bad he wasn’t God _ **Slamm** _god ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/14 "2018-07-20T20:50:25Z")
Derek Jeter - Baseball Jeter (Jzeh-TEH) is the French verb “to throw.” ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/15 "2018-07-21T01:00:21Z")
Powerlifter Magnus Ver Magnusson won the title of World’s Strongest Man four times. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/16 "2018-07-21T01:54:19Z")
Jonathan Quick - LA Kings goalie. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/17 "2018-07-21T02:25:27Z")
I was considering starting a similar thread but never got around to it. My idea was to list players who had names similar to their teams’. For example, Johnny Podres finished his career with the San Diego Padres. Jose Cardenal spent a couple years with the St. Louis Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/18 "2018-07-21T03:20:55Z")
Nobody mentioned Tiger Woods, who shares a name with his clubs? ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/19 "2018-07-21T20:33:46Z")
Alan Ball played for England in the 1966 World Cup final. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283/20 "2018-07-22T02:09:44Z")
[Eric Plunk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Plunk) was a MLB pitcher. He hit 32 batters in his career. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-names/818283.md?page=2)